The Integrity of Design

I've been thinking about the tech process a lot recently. And aside from production meetings, tech is really the only time that all the aspects of design for a show really come together to create a shared final product.

But what happens when things don't work? You change 'em right?

And then I thought, but when things don't mesh, who's the one that has to change the most? They're not gonna make costumes dye their costumes if the colors aren't right. They're not gonna make scenic repaint. If anything, they'll go to lighting and ask them to change. It's not a vendetta or anything, it's just the easiest and cheapest out of all three. (And then there's sound, but they're literally in their own world, pretty much unaffected by the others.)

I feel like, as a lighting designer, it must be really difficult, especially in situations like these to really put forth the show that you envisioned. It seems that lighting design is most often compromised for the sake of the show.

Or maybe i'm just overthinking that. I mean, if anything, it's just an issue of color. It's not like you're changing angles or anything.

maybe it's not as bad as I thought. i just know i'm the kind of person who'd get really upset if i couldn't use the exact Broadway Pink or Sangria that I wanted.